Portable magnetic memorandum device or the like



Sept. 22, 1964 J. J. MGIN'rosH 3,150,296

PORTABLE MAGNETIC MEMORANDUM DEVICE on THE LIKE Filed June 1s, 1960 `IZy :7.

E l L 1i i 2 i @ATTORNEYS PORTABLE MAGNETIC MEMORANDUM DEVICE R THE LIKE Joseph J. McIntosh, 30 S. Court House Ave., Carlisle, Pa. Filed June 13, 1960, Ser. No. 35,477 3 Claims. (Cl. 317-159) The invention relates principally to portable memorandum devices, but can also be use for other purposes for removably supporting a metallic plate on ferrous or non-ferrous surfaces, including curved surfaces.

The primary :object of the invention is to provide a simple and eective arrangement for removably supporting a thin metallic plate on a vertical surface, such as a kitchen wall, closet or refrigerator door or the like.

A further object of the'invention is to provide an arrangement of this type which is adaptable to the support of the plate on a curved. surface.

It is another object of the invention to provide an arrangement for supporting the plate on either ferrous or non-ferrous surfaces, the support on a ferrous surface being accomplished by magnetic means, while the support on 'a nonferrous surface is achieved by the use of a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the magnet, which, however, is not exposed when the plate is shipped and sold or when it is supported on a ferrous surface.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear morefully from the following description, espey cially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a pant thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in front view a` plate embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 isa rear view thereof; i

FIG. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

f FIG. 4 is a top plan view Vshowing the plate attached to a curved surface; v

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 3 showing the plate iapplied to ferrous and non-ferrous surfaces respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1the plate which is of bendable ferrous met-al has a front surface 2, which is preferably covered with a hard, smooth, readily erasable surface of enamel, lacquer or plastic, beneath which may be suitable indicia 4, such as the names of different types of grocery and household supplies, or other matter. The smooth surface can be written on by a soft pencil or crayon 6, which can be held on the plate or board by a magnet 8 attached .to one end. The plate may lalso have some holding means for a memorandum pad 10.

The rear face 12 of the plate carries removably a bar magnet 14. This bar is preferably a flexible magnetic device, such as a rubber base magnetic material. On the side of the bar 14 facing surface 12 is a coating 16 of pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as is used on pressuresensitive tape.

When such a device is to be mounted on a ferrous surface, it is applied, as shown in FIG. 5, with the bar directly against the body 18. If this body is curved, as

in the case of a refrigerator door, the plate and magnet may be curved to fit, as shown in FIG. 4. Now, if the user wishes to remove the device (as to take it to market, if it is a market list), all that is needed is to exert a slight pull and the plate and magnet come olf together.

It will be'clear that, during shipping and in use` on ferrous surfaces, the pressure-sensitive adhesive is not exposed. However, in some instanaces, it may be desirable to support the plate on a non-ferrous surface. The user then pulls the magnet from the back of the plate (the adhesive not being so strong as to prevent ready manual removal of the magnet), reverses the magnet and presses the adhesive side against the supporting surface, such as a wooden door (20, FIG. 6). The adhesive then secures the magnet to the surface, which may be of wood, for example, as shown at 20 in FIG. 6, and when the plate is placed against the magnet it will be removably held thereby.

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the claims hereto or hereinafter appended.

I claim:

1. A memorandum device, sign, or the like comprising a bendable plate ofrnagnetic material and, on one face of the plate, an elongated strip of flexible magnetized magnetic material of sufficient magnetic strength to hold the plate when the str-ip is positioned against the surface of an object of ferrous material, the strip having, on the surface which engages the plate face only, a pressuresensitive adhesive of suicent strength, when the strip is reversed and the adhesive is pressed against a surface of non-ferrous material, to support the magnetic material and plate, but which permits relatively ready manual removal of the magnetic material from the plate.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the opposite face of the plate has a smooth, hard, readily erasable surface.

3. A memorandum device, sign or the like comprising a plate of magnetic material and, on one face of the plate, an elongated strip of magnetic material of suf-'x cient magnetic strength to hold the plate when the strip is positioned against the surface of an object of ferrous material, said strip having, on the surface which engages the plate face only, a pressure-sensitive adhesive of sufcient strength, when the strip is reversed and the adhesive is pressed against 'a surface of non-ferrous material, to support the magnetic material and plate, but which permits relatively ready manual removal of the magnetic material from the plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,727,650 Moynihan et -al Dec. 20, 1955 2,770,472 Whitwell Nov. 13, 1956 2,797,370 Bennett June 25, 1957 2,943,246 Riordan June 28, 1960 2,958,019 Scholten et al. Oct. 25, 1960 2,959,832 Baermann Nov. 15, 1960 

1. A MEMORANDUM DEVICE, SIGN OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A BENDABLE PLATE OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL AND, ON ONE FACE OF THE PLATE, AN ELONGATED STRIP OF FLEXIBLE MAGNETIZED MAGNETIC MATERIAL OR SUFFICIENT MAGNETIC STRENGTH TO HOLD THE PLACE WHEN THE STRIP IS POSITIONED AGAINST THE SUFACE OF AN OBJECT OF FERROUS MATERIAL, THE STRIP HAVING, ON THE SURFACE WHICH ENGAGES THE PLATE FACE ONLY, A PRESSURESENSTIVE ADHESIVE OF SUFFICENT STRENGTH, WHEN THE STRIP IS REVERSED AND THE ADHESIVE IS PRESSED AGAINST A SURFACE OF NON-FERROUS MATERIAL, TO SUPPORT THE MAGNETIC MATERIAL AND PLATE, BUT WHICH PERMITS RELATIVELY READY MANUAL REMOVAL OF THE MAGNETIC MATERIAL FROM THE PLATE. 